Spring structure



April 20, 1926.

G. G. RICKERSON SPRING STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 28, 1925 9 .9 A X 59 1 A L/fi. i l\\ i 14 7 1/ A WW gig 1 I a Q J 22 L 2 13 zz 24 r 324 24 z 4 I24 1 12 v 12 z 1/ a! z if 21 2v za 1;

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I ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES GRADY GORDON RICKERSON, OF AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR TOAUGUSTA B ED- 4 1,581,870 FFICE',

ATENT'O DING COMPANY, OF AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.

SPRING STRUCTURE.

Application filed September 28, 1925. Serial No. 59,082.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GRAD; GORDON RICK- ERSON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Augusta, in the county of Richmond and State ofGeorgia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Spring--Structures, of which the following 18 a SPBCl- -fication.

This invention relates to spring structures, such as bed springs,springs for sofas, cushions, etc., and the invention has for its objectto provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a spring structurewhich is strong, durable, thoroughly eflicient in its use, andcomparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

I A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a spring structure including resilient spacerelements for connection to and interposed between the main orcushioningsprings of the structure and further'with new and novel locking meansfor the ends of the spacers with respect to the springs to preventdisconnection of the spacers when the spring structure is used.

\Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, ashereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein-is shown an embodiment of the invention,but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modificationscan be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereuntoappended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote correspondingparts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, intop plan, of a spring structure, in accordance with this invention. a

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation illustrating a pair of spacers and apair of locking elements for one of the spacers in looking position withrespect thereto and also with respect to a pair of main or cushioningsprlngs of the spring structure.

Fi re 3 is a perspective view of a looking e ement.

A spring structure, in accordance with this invention, comprises a lowerframe 1 and a vertically movable upper frame 2. The spring structurefurther includes main or cushioning springs arranged in longitudinalcoil type and as illustrated, by way of examvple, four main springs areshown and indicatedat'3,.{1, 5 and 6. The outer main. springs of thefowsare connected by a tie member 7 to the upper frame 2, and said tiemember is formed with bent portions};

for not only overlapping the frame 2 but also the upper coil of the saidouter springs, in a manner as indicated at 8, 9 and 10, whereby the saidouter springs are connected to the upper frame 2 for the purpose ofreslhently supporting it. The springs of the rows are furthermoreconnected by longitudmally and horizontally disposed tie bars 11. and 12respectively.

The upper coils of the springs 3, 4, 5 and 6 are indicated respectivelyat 13, 14, 15 and 16 and each of which is connected to an ad acent lowercoil, as indicated at 17.

The springs of one row are connected to the springs of the other row bya pair of interengaging resilient combined spacing and coupling elementsextending in opposite directions with respect to each other, and asillustrated by way of example, the upper coil 13 of the spring 3 isconnected to the upper coil 16 of the spring 6 by a combined spacing andcoupling element 18, and the upper coil 14 of the spring 4 is connectedto the upper coil 15 of the spring 5 by a combined spacing and couplingelement 19.

Each of said elements is in the form of a coiled spring of reduceddiameter of the helical type, and one end terminal of the element 18 iswrapped around the coil 13,

as at 20, and the other end terminal of the element 18 is wrapped aroundthe coil 16, as at 21, for the purpose of connecting the element 18 tothe springs 3 and 6. One end terminal of the element 19is'connected tothe coil 14, as at 22, and the other end terminal of the element 19 iswrapped around or connected to the coil 15, as at 23, whereby thesprings 4 and 5 are connected together. The elements 18 and 19 maintainthe springs 3, 4, 5 and 6 in spaced relation,

and to prevent the disconnection of the elements 18 and 19 from thesprings 3, 4, 5 and 6, locking members are employed which are not onlyconnected with the upper coils of said cushioning spring but also extendinto the elements 18 and 19, from the ends thereof, and further overlapcertain of the coils of said elements.

The locking members are referred to generally by the reference character24, and each of which includes an arcuate couphngor outerend portion 25,an inwardly e ztendmg and upwardly inclined upper locking portion 26which projects from the upper end of the arcuate portion 25, and a lowerhookshaped locking portion 27 having its stem projecting at right anglesfrom the lower end of the arctuate ortion 25. The stem of the ortion 27terminates in a bill 28, The

portion 26 is superposed throughout with respect to the stem and bill ofthe portion 27. The bill 28 is positioned to overlap a part of the stemand it extends towards the portion 26 at an inclination. Vvhen a lockingmember 24 is in operative position the arcuate portion 25 is positioned.

against the inner side of an upper coil of a cushioning spring and theportion 26 extends into one end of a combined spacer and couplingelement and is enclosed by the coils thereof. The ortion 27 extendsunder one end of a combined spacer and coupling element and the bill 28of said portion 27 extends between a pair of coils of such element andis enclosed by a plurality of coils of such element.

Each pair of elements 18 and 19 interengages with each other at thecenter thereof, as at 29, to prevent the separatlon of smd elementsrelative to each other when the pair of elements are connected to fourof the cushioning springs. I

It is thought the many advantages of a spring structure, in accordancewith this invention. can be readily understood, and al- 7, though thepreferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described,yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of constructioncan be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:-

1. In a spring structure, two pairs of cushioning springs, a pair ofinterengaging' and oppositely extending combined spacer and couplingelements having their terminal portions overlapping the coils at theupper ends of said springs and each consisting of a small coiled spring,and a locking member for each end of each of said elements andconsisting of an arcuate portion engaging the inner side of an up ercoil of a cushioning spring, an upwar ly inclined locking portionextending into one end of the element and a lower hook-shaped lockingportion positioned exteriorly of such end and having its billextcndinginto the element and towards said upper locking portion.

2. In a spring structure, two pairs of coiled cushioning springs, a pairof interengaging, oppositely extending, resilientcombined spacer andcoupling elements each having an end terminal thereof overlapping theupper coil of a spring whereby said springs are connected together, anda locking member carried by the upper coil of each of said springs andincluding an inclined upper locking portion extending into the end of anelement and further including a lower hook-shaped locking portion havinga part thereof arranged exteriorly of the element and further having itsbill extending into said element towards said upper locking portion.

3. A spring structure comprising two pairs of cushioning springs of thespiral coiled type, a pair of coiled, resilient, oppositely extendlnginterengaging combined spacer and coupling elements having inheroutparts of their ends connected to the upper coils of said springs, andlocking members carried by the upper coils of said springs and eachincluding an inclined upper locking portion and a lower hook-shapedlooking portion, said inclined portion extending into one end of anelement and bearing against the inner face thereof, said lower portionhaving a part thereof positioned against the periphery of an element andfurther having its bill extending into said element towards said upperlocking portion,

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature hereto.

GRADY GORDON RICKERSON.

